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Monday presents a huge 11-game slate, and DraftKings continues to offer huge tournaments for DFS players. Below are some of my favorite targets at each position.
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Point Guard
Stud
Russell Westbrook, Washington Wizards vs. San Antonio Spurs, $10,900 - Westbrook’s 40.25 DKFP showing vs. the Cavaliers Sunday was an anomaly. The former MVP was amassing 64.1 DKFP per game in his previous 10 before that game, scoring at least 55 DKFP in all 10 starts and notching nine triple-doubles throughout. Leading the Wizards to eight wins in a row, Westbrook still has plenty of work to do with his team sitting 10th in the Eastern Conference, and he should see his usual heavy workload Monday, even with it being the second night of back-to-back.
With seven of the 11 highest-priced point guards on this slate officially out, paying up for Westbrook in cash games feels like a must tonight. This Spurs defense he’s facing has surrendered the third-most DKFP per game to opposing point guards in 2020-21, and Westbrook will be on his home floor, where he is providing 60 DKFP per game this season.
Other Options: Mike Conley ($7,400)
Value
Lonzo Ball, New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Clippers, $6,700 - Saturday night was Ball’s sixth game back from a four-game absence due to a hip injury. The point guard didn’t carry a minutes limit and got all the way up to 34 minutes in the two-point loss vs. the Spurs, helping Ball score 37.5 DKFP. On the menu for Monday night is another competitive setting, with the Clippers only 3.5-point favorites vs. the Pelicans on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Ball will almost certainly log over 30 minutes Monday — against a Los Angeles defense he dropped 40.5 DKFP on last month. The former lottery pick has amassed 33.1 DKFP per game when the spread has been under five points this season, and the never-popular Ball is one of my favorite GPP targets of this massive slate. In his past two starts, the 22-year-old has only gained a DraftKings’ main GPP ownership of 3.15%.
Other Options: D’Angelo Russell ($6,400), Kendrick Nunn ($5,800, if Goran Dragic and Tyler Herro are out), Delon Wright ($5,000), Killian Hayes ($4,600, if Cory Joseph is out)
Shooting Guard
Stud
Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers at New Orleans Pelicans, $9,600 - You know the drill. Kawhi Leonard (foot), Patrick Beverly (hand) and Serge Ibaka (back) are all still sidelined, making George a core play for all formats. In the six starts the All-Star has made with these three inactive, George has been a monster, posting an absurd 40% usage rate and producing 54 DKFP per game.
The Pelicans are a bottom-five defense in terms of efficiency, and PG-13 this a steal at this sub-$10K price tag.
Other Options: Bradley Beal ($9,700), Fred VanVleet ($8,300), Bogdan Bogdanovic ($7,800)
Value
Cedi Osman, Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors, $3,800 - Osman took the concussed Collin Sexton’s spot in the Cavs’ starting five Sunday, finishing with 31.5 DKFP across 37 minutes vs. the Wizards. This marked the 10th contest Sexton has missed in 2020-21, and Osman is averaging 23.8 DKFP in those games.
It is very unlikely Sexton is cleared to play Monday, and 30-35 minutes is a safe expectation for Osman. The 27-year-old lacks real upside against a near full strength Raptors club, but Osman should still be able to manage over 20 DKFP with Sexton out of the lineup.
Other Options: Tyrese Haliburton ($6,800), Joe Ingles ($6,500), Delon Wright ($5,000), Jalen Brunson ($4,700, if Kristaps Porzingis is out), R.J. Hampton ($4,000)
Small Forward
Stud
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks at Sacramento Kings, $11,100 - Doncic is questionable Monday with an elbow injury, but the superstar was able to play through the ailment in Saturday’s win vs. the Lakers, so I fully expect him to be a full-go vs. the Kings. Plus, the Mavs should be without at least one of Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) or Josh Richardson (hamstring), who are both carry questionable tags after missing Saturday’s game.
As usual, Doncic’s role is going to be sky-high and this is a prime matchup for him to reach his ceiling since the Kings rank dead-last in defensive efficiency. He already has a 61-DKFP outing vs. Sacramento on his resume this season and should eclipse 60 DKFP again Monday night.
Other Options: Jimmy Butler ($9,500)
Value
PJ Dozier, Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies, $5,200 - With Jamal Murray (knee), Monte Morris (hamstring) and Will Barton (hamstring) all out Saturday, Dozier earned the spot start and went off for a career-high 45.75 DKFP vs. the Rockets. He logged 28 minutes and had a 21.4% usage rate as a starter, and he will maintain this role going forward with all three of those players out for the foreseeable future.
Dozier generates 0.93 DKFP per minute sans Morris, Murray and Barton, and should handle right around 30 minutes in this meeting vs. the Grizzlies — a game that should stay close from start to finish. Opposing shooting guards are exposing Memphis for the third-most DKFP per game this season, and Dozier should be able to provide over five-times value tonight, even at the highest price point of his career.
Other Options: Saddiq Bey ($4,900, if Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee are out), Tim Hardaway Jr. ($4,300, if Josh Richardson is out), Terence Davis ($3,400)
Power Forward
Stud
Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies, $8,500 - Saturday night, Porter Jr. exploded for 59 DKFP vs. the Rockets. Murray, Morris and Barton being unavailable resulted in a 30.9% usage rate for Porter Jr., and the heavy usage should continue in the same exact situation Monday night.
While we can’t expect a repeat performance from Saturday. But, Porter is capable providing value at his $8.5K price tag against this Memphis defense that is 24th in rating this month, and the elevated salary should make most DFS players uncomfortable.
Other Options: Zion Williamson ($10,100), Pascal Siakam ($8,900)
Value
Marcus Morris, Los Angeles Clippers at New Orleans Pelicans, $5,900 - Morris is a compelling sleeper pick Monday. After being a late scratch Friday for rest, I highly doubt Morris gains much attention in GPPs for this 11-game slate, and he has an excellent opportunity vs. New Orleans. Not only will Leonard, Beverley and Ibaka be missing, but Luke Kennard will be resting. Whenever these four — plus Lou Williams, who’s now in Atlanta — have been off the floor this season, Morris’ usage has leaped 6.6 percentage points, translating to 1.2 DKFP per minute for the forward.
With so many key pieces absent from the Clippers’ rotation, Morris should see nothing less than 30 minutes and he has 40-DKFP upside against this Pelicans defense that has yielded the most DKFP to opposing power forwards this season.
Other Options: Bojan Bogdanovic ($6,400), Royce O’Neale ($4,900), Cameron Johnson ($4,300, if Jae Crowder is out)
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies, $11,000 - Unsurprisingly, Jokic holds the top play honors at center Monday night. With the Nuggets very understaffed Saturday, the center collected 55.5 DKFP in 29 minutes vs. the Rockets. In the 104 minutes Jokic has played without Barton, Murray and Morris this season, his usage has increased 6.2 percentage points and his assist rate 7.5 percentage points.
On tap for Monday is a home matchup vs. the Grizzlies, who have struggled all season at defending centers, allowing the seventh-most DKFP per game to the position. The Joker is supplying 3.8 more DKFP per game on his home floor this season, and he has destroyed the Grizzlies for 70.8 DKFP per game in his two meetings with the club.
Other Options: Joel Embiid ($10,200, if active), Rudy Gobert ($8,600)
Value
Daniel Gafford, Washington Wizards vs. San Antonio Spurs, $3,900 - Gafford was huge in 119-110 win vs. the Cavs Sunday, chipping in with 38.5 DKFP in 26.5 minutes off the bench. This is the second time the center has posted 38.5 DKFP in his past three contests, and Gafford is generating 26.1 DKFP per game in his first nine as a Wizard.
With the ineffective Alex Len continuing to struggle in the starting lineup and Robin Lopez hurting his leg Sunday night, it’s safe to expect at least 20 minutes of work Monday for Gafford, which is plenty of time for the 22-year-old to beat his soft salary. He is contributing 1.13 DKFP per minute this season and no defense in the NBA has given up more DKFP per game to opposing centers than the Spurs in 2020-21.
Other Options: Deandre Ayton ($6,600), Jakob Poeltl ($6,100), Isaiah Stewart ($6,000, if Mason Plumlee is rested), Khem Birch ($4,800)
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